OUR BOYS IN BLUE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 359, 9 April 1910, Page 8

OUR BOYS IN BLUE.

1 LU'iTKi: i:\ vAUDE-istllei;.j ~ ~* < "What claim have I upon you?" asked j the licv. the lion. Li, ,). lanlc-Uuller in i his lecture on "The Navv'' at St. Mary's! Hall last evening. ".My answer is, 'The! Claim of the Navy'.'' And he con-1 i ima'il: 'You i.o j li;, las iua< 1. ' interested as 1 am myself—and I take it that you arc." That, ilie rev. gentle- , man had a happy knack of gauging the) minds of his auiiiuuce was minutest r.i. the hearty round of applause that, greeted these remarks. The Rev. the Hon. Yarde-Buller, it may here be stated, is engaged on a tour or crusade' on, behalf of the financial funds of the I Navy Ilou.-e, Chatham, Kent. England,' and the Mission to Seamen Institute., Auckland. As will lie gathered from tile' titles, these institutions are for the moral and physical strength and uplifting of the Navy and mercantile marine. The lecturer in a most interesting and | instructive manner discoursed for «n hour and a-half on the objects and aims of the movement. The Navy House at Chatham started in a verv small way indeed, having accommodation for only about eighteen at its inception, but the need for such an institution was at once «o evident that it rapidly grew, until) during the year IDOS as many as 29.000; sailors took advantage of its comforts I for a home while on shore. Many in-1 stances were given—in a style that" only a raconteur of the type of the lecturer could portray—of the splendid workthat lias been done towards the amelioration of the sailorman's life. The of drink and vice in every shape that lie in the .path of naval men were referred to, and a strong appeal to all to assist in building and in extending the influence for good upon the men was made. The evening was made most enjoyable by sketches of the bluejacket's character, life, age, and discipline. Verily, as the Hon. Yarde-Buller said, in a tone that betokened true sincerity, "they are delightfully interesting creatures!" The N?.w w?s made up mostly young fellows, their vouthfulness being a feature that struck all who knew it. And so it would be recognised that at times there was a special need of a friend. In this remark lay the crux of the appeal that was being made.

A collection was taken up at the close of the lecture, which was attended by a Jarge number, his Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch) presiding. On the motion of the Rev. P. G. Evans, seconded ■by Mr. W. H. Skinner, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Rev. Hio Hon. Yarde-Buller for his address. The singing l of the National Anthem concluded the .proceedings.